Musical notation



Sept. 1, 192s. v

w. B/ GLlssoN MUSICAL NOTATION Filed Sept. 27, 1924 Patented Sept. l, 1925. i

. UNITEDSTA'fffglfS*ik OFFICE WILLIAMy B. GLIssoN, oF-RUTHEBFORD, crmmnssany n MusrcALnorA'rIoN." 'o

Application med spteniber 27, 1924. seriai 110.740,231.

- To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM: Gmsson,

a citizen of the United States, residing "at" Rutherford, in the county of Gibson andy resented by numerals or by initials, so that the scale can be printed without any eXtra symbols. The object of the vinvention is to simplify musical notation both from the point of view of the printer and of the student. f f

The system is diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in WhichzV Fig. 1 is a representation ofthe diatonic scale; y

Fig. 2 is a representation of the chromatic scale ascending; j Y

Fig. 3 shows the chromatic scale descending; f

Fig. 4 indicates the mode of representing time for vocal music ;y f Fig. 5 indicates a mode of representing time for instrumental music;`

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively, butfory a different clef.

Fig. 11 shows the mannerkof representing diatonic tones. n

Fig. 12 shows the manner of represent-v ing chromatic tones, ascending and descend- Fig. 13 shows the manner of representing the different clefs; n

Fig.; 14 indicates the manner of representing'tone lengths and rests. n f' Referring first to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, it will be noted that the improved scale requires but two primary lines for each clef, these lines being represented bythe numerals 20 and 21. The tones do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti and do are represented by the respective initials of these tones as indicated in Fig. 11, instead of by symbols located upon a particular line of the scale, as in the usual notation. I preferably locate low do on the lowest line 20 of the scale, and re, mi, .fa between the lines 2()k and 21. The tones sol,

` la, are preferably located above the line 21while,`high do, if it be employed in the scale, will be located upon a supplementary lineQ22, abovethe line21. If it is neces-V sary to 'goup an"octave inthe scale, the additional notes may be located above the line '22, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 10.

` As shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 13, the clefs,

instead of being represented by special symbols are designated merely by capital letters, G, C and F. vThe key in which the' scale is written is indicated by a larger numeral, as shown in Figs.-1 and 6. The time is likewise represented by numerals, these numerals being smaller than those represent-y ing the key.

Tone lengths, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 9, 10 and-14, are indicated by numerals, which are located in a line vertically above or below the particular notes whose time they represent. Dotted notes are indicated by a period after the numeral which is to be prolonged. Rests, as shown in Figs. 4, 9 and 14, are Llikewise indicated by numerals, but these numerals are preferably written horizontally instead of upright as are the time numerals. f f

The chromatic tones as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 7 8 and 14 are indicated by the initials of the tone, but are written horizontally instead of upright, in order to distinguish them from the diatonic tones. In the chromatic scale ascending the initials are tilted 90 in a clockwise direction, whereas in the descending scaler the chromatic tones are til'f ed 90 in a counterclockwisedirection.

kIt will be readily seen that according to ythe improved system of notation `all the terms necessary .to writing music can be designated by letters or numerals which may be printed by the ordinary type with which every printing press is equipped. It will be erable to use two lines for this purpose. By

this reduction in the number of lines a saving iny printing is edected and greater simplicity is obtained.

It has been found in practice that the improved scale is much more readily mastered by the student, than the standard scale, and

can be learned by any one having a rudimentary knowledge of fractions.

Obviously the invention issulit h mdificatons such as fall within the scope of the appended claims:

1. A music sheet in which. time is represented by numerals in the upright Ioseition and rests by numerals tilted rom- -uplette right position.

2. A music sheeti'n which notes arerepresented by letters and tone lengths by numerals,` the letters designating a plurality of different notes of a single octave'being ar ranged in horizontal alignment, the numeral corresponding to each letter being in vertical alignment with said letter and all the numerals being in horizontal alignment with tack othen 3. A music sheet as defined in claim 2, in which the letteis representing re, mi, and ia the, eo diatonic tones, are arranged in horizontal alignment and the rs representing sol, la, ti, and the corresponding diatonic tones are likewise arranged in horizontal alignment, but above the first series of letters.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM B. GLIssoN. 

